Nanoprecipitation versus emulsion-based techniques for the encapsulation of proteins into biodegradable nanoparticles and process-related stability issues

A precise targeting of Staphylococcus aureus with phage RBP-decorated antibiotic-loaded nanoparticles

Resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which have emerged due to the excessive and indiscriminate use of antibiotics, have become one of the most significant causes of hospital-acquired infections, highlighting the necessity for specific and effective alternative methods in combating them. Leveraging the therapeutic potential of bacteriophage receptor binding protein (RBP), which occurs unique and irreversible binding of its host, in recognizing bacteria renders them valuable components in the development of targeted nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, and offers promising approach to combat antibiotic resistance. In this study, synthesis and characterization of rifampicin-loaded PLGA nanoparticle (RIF-NP) were conducted and for selective targeting of S. aureus, rGp144, the RBP derived from Bacteriophage K, was conjugated onto the surface of the synthesized RIF-NP (RIF144-NP). While RIF-NP initially exhibited approximately a zeta potential of -26 mV and a size of 250 nm, after the conjugation with rGp144 led to an increase in zeta potential to -11 mV and a size to 300 nm. FT-IR analysis after conjugation confirmed the presence of primary amide bands in the regions of 1650 cm-1 and 1550 cm-1. Furthermore, the nanoparticles exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 35.26% and a drug loading capacity of 26.64%. When the antimicrobial activities were evaluated, it was observed that compared to free RIF, the nano systems reduced the MIC value by twofold for all S. aureus strains. Incorporating a targeting strategy based on phage RBP in decoration to the surface of nanoparticular drug carriers represents a noteworthy and innovative treatment when combating bacterial infections.

Nanoparticle targeting strategies for traumatic brain injury

Nanoparticle (NP)-based drug delivery systems hold immense potential for targeted therapy and diagnosis of neurological disorders, overcoming the limitations of conventional treatment modalities. This review explores the design considerations and functionalization strategies of NPs for precise targeting of the brain and central nervous system. This review discusses the challenges associated with drug delivery to the brain, including the blood-brain barrier and the complex heterogeneity of traumatic brain injury. We also examine the physicochemical properties of NPs, emphasizing the role of size, shape, and surface characteristics in their interactions with biological barriers and cellular uptake mechanisms. The review concludes by exploring the options of targeting ligands designed to augment NP affinity and retention to specific brain regions or cell types. Various targeting ligands are discussed for their ability to mimic receptor-ligand interaction, and brain-specific extracellular matrix components. Strategies to mimic viral mechanisms to increase uptake are discussed. Finally, the emergence of antibody, antibody fragments, and antibody mimicking peptides are discussed as promising targeting strategies. By integrating insights from these scientific fields, this review provides an understanding of NP-based targeting strategies for personalized medicine approaches to neurological disorders. The design considerations discussed here pave the way for the development of NP platforms with enhanced therapeutic efficacy and minimized off-target effects, ultimately advancing the field of neural engineering.

Unlocking nature's arsenal: Nanotechnology for targeted delivery of venom toxins in cancer therapy

AIM

The aim of the present review is to shed light on the nanotechnological approaches adopted to overcome the shortcomings associated with the delivery of venom peptides which possess inherent anti-cancer properties.

BACKGROUND

Venom peptides although have been reported to demonstrate anti-cancer effects, they suffer from several disadvantages such as in vivo instability, off-target adverse effects, limited drug loading and low bioavailability. This review presents a comprehensive compilation of different classes of nanocarriers while underscoring their advantages, disadvantages and potential to carry such peptide molecules for in vivo delivery. It also discusses various nanotechnological aspects such as methods of fabrication, analytical tools to assess these nanoparticulate formulations, modulation of nanocarrier polymer properties to enhance loading capacity, stability and improve their suitability to carry toxic peptide drugs.

CONCLUSION

Nanotechnological approaches bear great potential in delivering venom peptide-based molecules as anticancer agents by enhancing their bioavailability, stability, efficacy as well as offering a spatiotemporal delivery approach. However, the challenges associated with toxicity and biocompatibility of nanocarriers must be duly addressed.

PERSPECTIVES

The everlasting quest for new breakthroughs for safer delivery of venom peptides in human subjects is fuelled by unmet clinical needs in the current landscape of chemotherapy. In addition, exhaustive efforts are required in obtaining and purifying the venom peptides followed by designing and optimizing scale up technologies.

Vitamin D loaded into lipid nanoparticles shows insulinotropic effect in INS-1E cells

Increasing evidence suggests a beneficial role of vitamin D (VitD) supplementation in addressing the widespread VitD deficiency, but currently used VitD3 formulations present low bioavailability and toxicity constrains. Hence, poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs), solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were investigated to circumvent these issues. PLGA NPs prepared by emulsification or nanoprecipitation presented 74 or 200 nm, and association efficiency (AE) of 68 % and 17 %, respectively, and a rapid burst release of VitD3. Both SLN and NLCs presented higher polydispersity and larger NPs size, around 500 nm, which could be reduced to around 200 nm by use of hot high-pressure homogenization in the case of NLCs. VitD3 was efficiently loaded in both SLNs and NLCs with an AE of 82 and 99 %, respectively. While SLNs showed burst release, NLCs allowed a sustained release of VitD3 for nearly one month. Furthermore, NLCs showed high stability with maintenance of VitD3 loading for up to one month at 4 °C and no cytotoxic effects on INS-1E cells up to 72 h. A trending increase (around 30 %) on glucose-dependent insulin secretion was observed by INS-1E cells pre-treated with VitD3. This effect was consistently observed in the free form and after loading on NLCs. Overall, this work contributed to further elucidation on a suitable delivery system for VitD3 and on the effects of this metabolite on β cell function.

Design and in vitro evaluation of curcumin-loaded PLGA nanoparticle-embedded sodium alginate/gelatin 3D printed scaffolds for Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

Targeted nanoparticles (NPs) are aimed at improving clinical outcomes by enhancing the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of drugs in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

Curcumin (CUR)-loaded poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) NPs (CNPs) were produced to demonstrate a prolonged release and successfully embedded into 3D printed sodium alginate (SA)/gelatin (GEL) scaffolds that can dissolve rapidly sublingually. Characterization and in vitro activity of the NPs and scaffolds were evaluated.

RESULTS

Based on the in vitro drug release studies, 99.6 % of the encapsulated CUR was released in a controlled manner within 18 days for the CNPs. In vitro cell culture studies showed that all samples exhibited cell viability above 84.2 % and no significant cytotoxic effect on SH-SY5Y cells. The samples were analyzed through 2 different pathways by PCR analysis. Real-time PCR results indicated that CNP and CNP-embedded SA/GEL scaffolds (CNPSGS) may show neuroprotective effects by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The gene expression level of β-catenin slightly increased compared to the gene expression levels of other proteins and enzymes with these treatments. However, the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway was regulated at the same time because of the crosstalk between these 2 pathways.

CONCLUSION

CNPSGS might be an effective therapeutic alternative for AD treatment.

Nanoparticle formulation for the development of a dog nanovaccine against Cystic Echinococcosis

Cystic Echinococcosis is a cosmopolitan zoonosis closely linked to poverty and ignorance. It affects both cattle and humans, causing significant losses to both human and animal health. To date, there is no effective way to combat this. Our proposal focused on the formulation of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and Eudragit-RSPO polymeric nanoparticles, which are suitable to encapsulate an antigen for oral administration in dogs. This antigen, named EgFABP1, belonging to the family of fatty acid-binding proteins, was isolated from the larval form of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. Several reports point to proteins from this family from parasitic flatworms as candidates for a successful vaccine, considering the restricted lipid metabolism of these organisms. The encapsulation of the antigen yielded an efficiency higher than 50 %, and the nanoparticles showed the expected size range. In addition, antigen integrity was conserved and the formulation was resistant to artificial gastric and intestinal fluid effects.

Self-assembled block copolymer biomaterials for oral delivery of protein therapeutics

Protein therapeutics have guided a transformation in disease treatment for various clinical conditions. They have been successful in numerous applications, but administration of protein therapeutics has been limited to parenteral routes which can decrease patient compliance as they are invasive and painful. In recent years, the synergistic relationship of novel biomaterials with modern protein therapeutics has been crucial in the treatment of diseases that were once thought of as incurable. This has guided the development of a variety of alternative administration routes, but the oral delivery of therapeutics remains one of the most desirable due to its ease of administration. This review addresses important aspects of micellar structures prepared by self-assembled processes with applications for oral delivery. These two characteristics have not been placed together in previous literature within the field. Therefore, we describe the barriers for delivery of protein therapeutics, and we concentrate in the oral/transmucosal pathway where drug carriers must overcome several chemical, physical, and biological barriers to achieve a successful therapeutic effect. We critically discuss recent research on biomaterials systems for delivering such therapeutics with an emphasis on self-assembled synthetic block copolymers. Polymerization methods and nanoparticle preparation techniques are similarly analyzed as well as relevant work in this area. Based on our own and others' research, we analyze the use of block copolymers as therapeutic carriers and their promise in treating a variety of diseases, with emphasis on self-assembled micelles for the next generation of oral protein therapeutic systems.

Development of ionic liquid-coated PLGA nanoparticles for applications in intravenous drug delivery

Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are a promising platform for medical applications in drug delivery. However, their use as drug carriers is limited by biological (e.g., immunological) barriers after intravenous administration. Ionic liquids (ILs), formed from bulky asymmetric cations and anions, have a wide variety of physical internal and external interfacing properties. When assembled on polymeric NPs as biomaterial coatings, these external-interfacing properties can be tuned to extend their circulation half-life when intravenously injected, as well as drive biodistribution to sites of interest for selective organ accumulation. In our work, we are particularly interested in optimizing IL coatings to enable red blood cell hitchhiking in whole blood. In this protocol, we describe the preparation and physicochemical and biological characterization of choline carboxylate IL-coated polymeric NPs. The procedure is divided into five stages: (1) synthesis and characterization of choline-based ILs (1 week); (2) bare poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (50:50, acid terminated) Resomer 504H (PLGA) NP assembly, modified from previously established protocols, with dye encapsulation (7 h); (3) modification of the bare particles with IL coating (3 h); (4) physicochemical characterization of both PLGA and IL-PLGA NPs by dynamic light scattering, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (1 week); (5) ex vivo evaluation of intravenous biocompatibility (including serum-protein resistance and hemolysis) and red blood cell hitchhiking in whole BALB/c mouse blood via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (1 week). With practice and technique refinement, this protocol is accessible to late-stage graduate students and early-stage postdoctoral scientists.

Poly(succinimide) nanoparticles as reservoirs for spontaneous and sustained synthesis of poly(aspartic acid) under physiological conditions: potential for vascular calcification therapy and oral drug delivery

This paper describes the preparation of poly(succinimide) nanoparticles (PSI NPs) and investigates their properties and characteristics. Employing direct and inverse precipitation methods, stable PSI NPs with tunable size and narrow dispersity were prepared without the use of any stabilizer or emulsifier. It was demonstrated that PSI NPs convert to poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) gradually under physiological conditions (37 °C, pH 7.4), while remaining stable under mildly acidic conditions. The dissolution profile was tuned and delayed by chemical modification of PSI. Through grafting a fluorophore to the PSI backbone, it was also demonstrated that such a spontaneous conversion could offer great potential for oral delivery of therapeutic agents to the colon. Sustained PASP synthesis also contributed to a sustained reduction of reactive oxygen species induced by iron. Furthermore, PSI NPs effectively prevented in vitro calcification of smooth muscle cells. This was attributed to the chelation of calcium ions to PASP, thereby inhibiting calcium deposition, because under cell culture conditions PSI NPs serve as reservoirs for the sustained synthesis of PASP. Overall, this study sheds light on the preparation and features of biocompatible and biodegradable PSI-based NPs and paves the way for further research to discover as-yet unfulfilled potential of this polymer in the form of nanoparticles.

Biopolymer- and Lipid-Based Carriers for the Delivery of Plant-Based Ingredients

Natural ingredients are gaining increasing attention from manufacturers following consumers’ concerns about the excessive use of synthetic ingredients. However, the use of natural extracts or molecules to achieve desirable qualities throughout the shelf life of foodstuff and, upon consumption, in the relevant biological environment is severely limited by their poor performance, especially with respect to solubility, stability against environmental conditions during product manufacturing, storage, and bioavailability upon consumption. Nanoencapsulation can be seen as an attractive approach with which to overcome these challenges. Among the different nanoencapsulation systems, lipids and biopolymer-based nanocarriers have emerged as the most effective ones because of their intrinsic low toxicity following their formulation with biocompatible and biodegradable materials. The present review aims to provide a survey of the recent advances in nanoscale carriers, formulated with biopolymers or lipids, for the encapsulation of natural compounds and plant extracts.

In situ Formation of Polymer Microparticles in Bacterial Nanocellulose Using Alternative and Sustainable Solvents to Incorporate Lipophilic Drugs

Bacterial nanocellulose has been widely investigated in drug delivery, but the incorporation of lipophilic drugs and controlling release kinetics still remain a challenge. The inclusion of polymer particles to encapsulate drugs could address both problems but is reported sparely. In the present study, a formulation approach based on in situ precipitation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) within bacterial nanocellulose was developed using and comparing the conventional solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and the alternative solvents poly(ethylene glycol), Cyrene^TM and ethyl lactate. Using the best-performing solvents N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and ethyl lactate, their fast diffusion during phase inversion led to the formation of homogenously distributed polymer microparticles with average diameters between 2.0 and 6.6 µm within the cellulose matrix. Despite polymer inclusion, the water absorption value of the material still remained at ~50% of the original value and the material was able to release 32 g/100 cm² of the bound water. Mechanical characteristics were not impaired compared to the native material. The process was suitable for encapsulating the highly lipophilic drugs cannabidiol and 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid and enabled their sustained release with zero order kinetics over up to 10 days. Conclusively, controlled drug release for highly lipophilic compounds within bacterial nanocellulose could be achieved using sustainable solvents for preparation.

Mucoadhesive PLGA Nanospheres and Nanocapsules for Lactoferrin Controlled Ocular Delivery

Background: the present work describes the preparation, characterization and optimization of eight types of PLGA-based nanosystems (nanospheres and nanocapsules) as innovative mucoadhesive drug delivery systems of lactoferrin, in order to achieve a preclinical consistent base as an alternative pharmacological treatment to different ocular syndromes and diseases. Methods: All different nanoparticles were prepared via two modified nanoprecipitation techniques, using a three-component mixture of drug/polymer/surfactant (Lf/PLGA/Poloxamer), as a way to overcome the inherent limitations of conventional PLGA NPs. These modified polymeric nanocarriers, intended for topical ophthalmic administration, were subjected to in vitro characterization, surface modification and in vitro and in vivo assessments. Results: An appropriate size range, uniform size distribution and negative ζ potential values were obtained for all types of formulations. Lactoferrin could be effectively included into all types of nanoparticles with appropriate encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity values. A greater, extended, and controlled delivery of Lf from the polymeric matrix was observed through the in vitro release studies. No instability or cytotoxicity was proved for all the formulations by means of organotypic models. Additionally, mucoadhesive in vitro and in vivo experiments show a significant increase in the residence time of the nanoparticles in the eye surface. Conclusions: all types of prepared PLGA nanoparticles might be a potential alternative for the topical ophthalmic administration of lactoferrin.

Exploring Various Techniques for the Chemical and Biological Synthesis of Polymeric Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) have remarkable properties for delivering therapeutic drugs to the body's targeted cells. NPs have shown to be significantly more efficient as drug delivery carriers than micron-sized particles, which are quickly eliminated by the immune system. Biopolymer-based polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) are colloidal systems composed of either natural or synthetic polymers and can be synthesized by the direct polymerization of monomers (e.g., emulsion polymerization, surfactant-free emulsion polymerization, mini-emulsion polymerization, micro-emulsion polymerization, and microbial polymerization) or by the dispersion of preformed polymers (e.g., nanoprecipitation, emulsification solvent evaporation, emulsification solvent diffusion, and salting-out). The desired characteristics of NPs and their target applications are determining factors in the choice of method used for their production. This review article aims to shed light on the different methods employed for the production of PNPs and to discuss the effect of experimental parameters on the physicochemical properties of PNPs. Thus, this review highlights specific properties of PNPs that can be tailored to be employed as drug carriers, especially in hospitals for point-of-care diagnostics for targeted therapies.

Electrosprayed Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery systems for Biomedical Applications

BACKGROUND

Nanotechnology is a tool being used intensely in the area of drug delivery systems in the biomedical field. Electrospraying is one of the nanotechnological methods, which is growing due to its importance in the development of nanoparticles comprising bioactive compounds. It is helpful in improving the efficacy, reducing side effects of active drug elements, and is useful in targeted drug delivery. When compared to other conventional methods like nanoprecipitation, emulsion diffusion, and double emulsification, electrospraying offers better advantages to produce micro/nanoparticles due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and single-step process.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to highlight the use of electrosprayed nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review on the usage of natural and synthetic materials to produce nanoparticles, which can be used as a drug delivery system for medical purposes.

RESULTS

We summarized a possible key role of electrosprayed nanoparticles in different therapeutic applications (tissue regeneration, cancer).

CONCLUSION

The modest literature production denotes that further investigation is needed to assess and validate the promising role of drug-loaded nanoparticles through the electrospraying process as noninvasive materials in the biomedical field.

Formulation and Evaluation of Isradipine Nanosuspension and Exploring its Role as a Potential Anticancer Drug by Computational Approach

BACKGROUND

T-type calcium channels are aberrantly expressed in different human cancers and regulate cell cycle progression, proliferation, migration, and survival. FAK-1 can promote tumor protein degradation (p53) through ubiquitination, leading to cancer cell growth and proliferation. Similar findings are obtained regarding protease inhibitors' effect on cytokine-induced neutrophil activation that suppresses Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) TNF-α-induced O2 release and adherence in human neutrophils without affecting phosphorylation of Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38. Nanosuspensions are carrier-free, submicron colloidal dispersions which consist of pure drugs and stabilizers. Incorporating drug loaded in nanosuspensions possessed great advantages of passive drug targeting with improved solubility, stability, and bioavailability, as well as lower systemic toxicity.

OBJECTIVE

The present investigation objective was to establish a molecular association of Protease and Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 as cancer targets for isradipine a calcium channel blocker (CCB). Furthermore, the study also aimed to formulate its optimized nanosuspension and how the physical, morphological, and dissolution properties of isradipine impact nanosuspension stability.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Five different molecular targets, namely Cysteine Proteases (Cathepsin B), Serine Proteases (Matriptase), Aspartate Proteases, Matrix Metalloproteases (MMP), and FAK-1 were obtained from RCSB-PDB, which has some leading associations with the inhibition in cancer pathogenesis. Molecular interactions of these targets with CCB isradipine were identified and established by the molecular simulation docking studies. Isradipine-loaded nanosuspension was prepared by precipitation technique by employing a 23 factorial design. PVP K-30, poloxamer 188, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) were used as polymer, co-polymer, and surfactant. The nanosuspension particles are characterized for particle size, zeta potential, viscosity, polydispersity index (PDI), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), In-vitro drug release kinetics, and short-term stability study.

RESULT

It was found to show considerable interaction with Cysteine, Serine, Aspartate, Threonine, and Matrix metalloproteases with the binding energy of -3.91, -6.7, -3.48, -8.42, respectively. Furthermore, the interaction of isradipine with FAK-1 was compared with 7 native ligands and was found to show significant interaction with a binding energy of -8.62, -7.27, -7.69, -5.67, -5.41, -7.44, -8.21. The optimized nanosuspension was evaluated and exhibited the particle size of 754.9 nm, zeta potential of 32.5 mV, the viscosity of 1.287 cp, and PDI of 1.000. The in-vitro dissolution of the optimized formulation (F8) was higher (96.57%).

CONCLUSION

Isradipine could act as a potential inhibitor of different proteases and FAK-1 associated with tumor growth initiation, progression, and metastasis. Furthermore, isradipine-loaded nanosuspension with optimized release could be utilized to deliver the anticancer drug in a more targeted way as emerging cancer nanotechnology.

Trp2 Peptide-Assembled Nanoparticles with Intrinsically Self-Chelating 64Cu Properties for PET Imaging Tracking and Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy against Melanoma

Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy, in which the antigen is effectively delivered to dendritic cells and then the dendritic cells stimulated by the antigen migrate to draining lymph nodes (DLNs) to induce the CD8⁺ T-cell immune response, shows great promise for tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we used coassembled nanoparticles formed by Trp2 antigen and the conjugates of short-chain poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and pyropheophorbide-A (PPa) (Trp2/PPa-PEGm) to deliver Trp2 to DCs. Intrinsically self-chelating ⁶⁴Cu of coassemblies could be used to sensitively image the migration of DCs in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The coassemblies of the Trp2 antigen were efficiently engulfed by DCs without causing DC cytotoxicity in vitro and induced DC maturation. After injection of DCs labeled by coassemblies of the Trp2 antigen, the homing of DCs to DLNs in vivo could be sensitively observed by PET imaging. The C57BL/6 mice injected with DCs containing the Trp2/PPa-PEGm NP showed antigen-specific immune responses including enhanced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production, splenocyte proliferation, and percentage of IFN-γ-secreting CD8⁺ T cells. In addition, C57BL/6 mice inoculated with B16-F10 tumor cells showed delayed tumor growth after immunization with the Trp2/PPa-PEGm NP-labeled DC vaccine and enhanced infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells in tumors.

Solid-in-Oil-in-Water Emulsion: An Innovative Paradigm to Improve Drug Stability and Biological Activity

Abstract

An emulsion is a biphasic dosage form comprising of dispersed phase containing droplets that are uniformly distributed into a surrounding liquid which forms the continuous phase. An emulsifier is added at the interface of two immiscible liquids to stabilize the thermodynamically unstable emulsion. Various types of emulsions such as water-in-oil (w-o), oil-in-water (o-w), microemulsions, and multiple emulsions are used for delivering certain drugs in the body. Water (aqueous) phase is commonly used for encapsulating proteins and several other drugs in water-in-oil-in-water (w-o-w) emulsion technique. But this method has posed certain problems such as decreased stability, burst release, and low entrapment efficiency. Thus, a novel “solid-in-oil-in-water” (s-o-w) emulsion system was developed for formulating certain drugs, probiotics, proteins, antibodies, and tannins to overcome these issues. In this method, the active ingredient is encapsulated as a solid and added to an oil phase, which formed a solid-oil dispersion. This dispersion was then mixed with water to form a continuous phase for enhancing the drug absorption. This article focuses on the various studies done to investigate the effectiveness of formulations prepared as solid-oil-water emulsions in comparison to conventional water-oil-water emulsions. A summary of the results obtained in each study is presented in this article. The s-o-w emulsion technique may become beneficial in near future as it has shown to improve the stability and efficacy of the entrapped active ingredient.

Graphical abstract

Fabrication of nanoparticles for bone regeneration: new insight into applications of nanoemulsion technology

Introducing synthetic bone substitutes into the clinic was a major breakthrough in the regenerative medicine of bone. Despite many advantages of currently available bone implant materials such as biocompatiblity and osteoconductivity, they still suffer from relatively poor bioactivity, osteoinductivity and osteointegration. These properties can be effectively enhanced by functionalization of implant materials with nanoparticles such as osteoinductive hydroxyapatite nanocrystals, resembling inorganic part of the bone, or bioactive polymer nanoparticles providing sustained delivery of pro-osteogenic agents directly at implantation site. One of the most widespread techniques for fabrication of nanoparticles for bone regeneration applications is nanoemulsification. It allows manufacturing of nanoscale particles (<100 nm) that are injectable, 3D-printable, offer high surface-area-to-volume-ratio and minimal mass transport limitations. Nanoparticles obtained by this technique are of particular interest for biomedical engineering due to fabrication procedures requiring low surfactant concentrations, which translates into reduced risk of surfactant-related in vivo adverse effects and improved biocompatibility of the product. This review discusses nanoemulsion technology and its current uses in manufacturing of nanoparticles for bone regeneration applications. In the first section, we introduce basic concepts of nanoemulsification including nanoemulsion formation, properties and preparation methods. In the next sections, we focus on applications of nanoemulsions in fabrication of nanoparticles used for delivery of drugs/biomolecules facilitating osteogenesis and functionalization of bone implants with special emphasis on biomimetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, synthetic polymer nanoparticles loaded with bioactive compounds and bone-targeting nanoparticles. We also highlight key challenges in formulation of nanoparticles via nanoemulsification and outline potential further improvements in this field.

Polymeric micelles using cholinium-based ionic liquids for the encapsulation and release of hydrophobic drug molecules

We generated stable amphiphilic copolymer-based polymeric micelles (PMs) with temperature-responsive properties utilizing Pluronic® L35 and a variety of ionic liquids (ILs) for the encapsulation and release of curcumin.

Recent advances in the formulation of PLGA microparticles for controlled drug delivery

Polymeric microparticles (MPs) are recognized as very popular carriers to increase the bioavailability and bio-distribution of both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs. Among different kinds of polymers, poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most accepted materials for this purpose, because of its biodegradability (due to the presence of ester linkages that are degraded by hydrolysis in aqueous environments) and safety (PLGA is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compound). Moreover, its biodegradability depends on the number of glycolide units present in the structure, indeed, lower glycol content results in an increased degradation time and conversely a higher monomer unit number results in a decreased time. Due to this feature, it is possible to design and fabricate MPs with a programmable and time-controlled drug release. Many approaches and procedures can be used to prepare MPs. The chosen fabrication methodology influences size, stability, entrapment efficiency, and MPs release kinetics. For example, lipophilic drugs as chemotherapeutic agents (doxorubicin), anti-inflammatory non-steroidal (indomethacin), and nutraceuticals (curcumin) were successfully encapsulated in MPs prepared by single emulsion technique, while water-soluble compounds, such as aptamer, peptides and proteins, involved the use of double emulsion systems to provide a hydrophilic compartment and prevent molecular degradation. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview about the preparation and characterization of drug-loaded PLGA MPs obtained by single, double emulsion and microfluidic techniques, and their current applications in the pharmaceutical industry.Graphic abstract.

Enzymatic protection and biocompatibility screening of enzyme-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for neurotherapeutic applications

Polymeric nanoparticles provide a non-invasive strategy for enhancing the delivery of labile hydrophilic enzymatic cargo for neurological disease applications. One of the most common polymeric materials, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymerized with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is widely studied due to its biocompatible and biodegradable nature. Although PLGA-PEG nanoparticles are generally known to be non-toxic and protect enzymatic cargo from degradative proteases, different formulation parameters including surfactant, organic solvent, sonication times, and formulation method can all impact the final nanoparticle characteristics. We show that 30s sonication double emulsion (DE)-formulated nanoparticles achieved the highest enzymatic activity and provided the greatest enzymatic activity protection in degradative conditions, while nanoprecipitation (NPPT)-formulated nanoparticles exhibited no protection compared to free catalase. However, the same DE nanoparticles also caused significant toxicity on excitotoxicity-induced brain tissue slices, but not on healthy or neuroinflammation-induced tissue. We narrowed the culprit of toxicity to specifically sonication of PLGA-PEG polymer with dichloromethane (DCM) as the organic solvent, independent of surfactant type. We also discovered that toxicity was oxidative stress-dependent, but that increased toxicity was not enacted through increasing oxidative stress. Furthermore, no PEG degradation or aldehyde, alcohol, or carboxylic acid functional groups were detected after sonication. We identified that inclusion of free PEG along with PLGA-PEG polymer during the emulsification phases or replacing DCM with trichloromethane (chloroform) produced biocompatible polymeric nanoparticle formulations that still provided enzymatic protection. This work encourages thorough screening of nanoparticle toxicity and cargo-protective capabilities for the development of enzyme-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for the treatment of disease.

Polymeric Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization, Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are particles within the size range from 1 to 1000 nm and can be loaded with active compounds entrapped within or surface-adsorbed onto the polymeric core. The term "nanoparticle" stands for both nanocapsules and nanospheres, which are distinguished by the morphological structure. Polymeric NPs have shown great potential for targeted delivery of drugs for the treatment of several diseases. In this review, we discuss the most commonly used methods for the production and characterization of polymeric NPs, the association efficiency of the active compound to the polymeric core, and the in vitro release mechanisms. As the safety of nanoparticles is a high priority, we also discuss the toxicology and ecotoxicology of nanoparticles to humans and to the environment.

Comparative study of cilnidipine loaded PLGA nanoparticles: process optimization by DoE, physico-chemical characterization and in vivo evaluation

Cilnidipine (CND) is known to have low oral bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility, low dissolution rate, and high gut wall metabolism. In the present study, CND-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (CND-PLGA-NPs) were prepared with two different grades of PLGA (50:50 and 75:25) by design of experiment. Critical factors affecting particle size and entrapment efficiency (EE%) were assessed by mixed design approach, comprising of Plackett-Burman design followed by rotatable central composite design. Particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and EE% of optimized formulations of CND-PLGA(50:50)-NPs and CND-PLGA(75:25)-NPs were 211.6 ± 1.8 nm, 0.21 ± 0.05, - 15.1 ± 1.6 mV, and 85.9 ± 1.5% and 243.5 ± 2.4 nm, 0.23 ± 0.06, -19.6 ± 1.3 mV, and 92.0 ± 1.2% respectively. No significant changes were observed in physical stability of NPs when stored at 25 °C/60% RH over a period of 3 months. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that F_abs of CND-PLGA(50:50)-NPs (1.15) and CND-PLGA(75:25)-NPs (2.23) were significantly higher than the free CND (0.26). The C_max and AUC_0-∞ of CND-PLGA(50:50)-NPs (787.42 ± 27.38 ng/mL and 9339.37 ± 252.38 ng/ml × h) and CND-PLGA(75:25)-NPs (803.49 ± 19.63 ng/mL and 18,153.34 ± 543.05 ng/ml × h) were significantly higher (p ˂ 0.0001) compared with free CND (367.69 ± 47.22 ng/mL and 2107.95 ± 136.40 ng/ml × h). MRT_Oral of CND-PLGA(50:50)-NPs (33.36 ± 0.48 h) and CND-PLGA(75:25)-NPs (48.37 ± 0.61 h) were significantly higher (p ˂ 0.0001) compared with free CND (4.69 ± 0.58 h). CND-PLGA-NPs can provide higher and sustained plasma drug levels of CND and be effective in antihypertensive therapy. Graphical abstract.

Modelling protein therapeutic co-formulation and co-delivery with PLGA nanoparticles continuously manufactured by microfluidics

Formulating protein therapeutics into nanoparticles (NPs) of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) provides key features such as protection against clearance, sustained release and less side effects by possible attachment of targeting ligands.

A Perspective on Polylactic Acid-Based Polymers Use for Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications

Polylactic acid (PLA)-based polymers are ubiquitous in the biomedical field thanks to their combination of attractive peculiarities: biocompatibility (degradation products do not elicit critical responses and are easily metabolized by the body), hydrolytic degradation in situ, tailorable properties, and well-established processing technologies. This led to the development of several applications, such as bone fixation screws, bioresorbable suture threads, and stent coating, just to name a few. Nanomedicine could not be unconcerned by PLA-based materials as well, where their use for the synthesis of nanocarriers for the targeted delivery of hydrophobic drugs emerged as a new promising application. The purpose of the here presented review is two-fold: on one side, it aims at providing a broad overview of PLA-based materials and their properties, which allow them gaining a leading role in the biomedical field; on the other side, it offers a specific focus on their recent use in nanomedicine, highlighting opportunities and perspectives.

Hydrophobic ion pairing: encapsulating small molecules, peptides, and proteins into nanocarriers

Hydrophobic ion pairing has emerged as a method to modulate the solubility of charged hydrophilic molecules ranging in class from small molecules to large enzymes. Charged hydrophilic molecules are ionically paired with oppositely-charged molecules that include hydrophobic moieties; the resulting uncharged complex is water-insoluble and will precipitate in aqueous media. Here we review one of the most prominent applications of hydrophobic ion pairing: efficient encapsulation of charged hydrophilic molecules into nano-scale delivery vehicles - nanoparticles or nanocarriers. Hydrophobic complexes are formed and then encapsulated using techniques developed for poorly-water-soluble therapeutics. With this approach, researchers have reported encapsulation efficiencies up to 100% and drug loadings up to 30%. This review covers the fundamentals of hydrophobic ion pairing, including nomenclature, drug eligibility for the technique, commonly-used counterions, and drug release of encapsulated ion paired complexes. We then focus on nanoformulation techniques used in concert with hydrophobic ion pairing and note strengths and weaknesses specific to each. The penultimate section bridges hydrophobic ion pairing with the related fields of polyelectrolyte coacervation and polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexation. We then discuss the state of the art and anticipated future challenges. The review ends with comprehensive tables of reported hydrophobic ion pairing and encapsulation from the literature.

Development of Hydrophilic Drug Encapsulation and Controlled Release Using a Modified Nanoprecipitation Method

The improvement of the loading content of hydrophilic drugs by polymer nanoparticles (NPs) recently has received increased attention from the field of controlled release. We developed a novel, simply modified, drop-wise nanoprecipitation method which separated hydrophilic drugs and polymers into aqueous phase (continuous phase) and organic phase (dispersed phase), both individually and involving a mixing process. Using this method, we produced ciprofloxacin-loaded NPs by Poly (d,l-lactic acid)-Dextran (PLA-DEX) and Poly lactic acid-co-glycolic acid-Polyethylene glycol (PLGA-PEG) successfully, with a considerable drug-loading ability up to 27.2 wt% and an in vitro sustained release for up to six days. Drug content with NPs can be precisely tuned by changing the initial drug feed concentration of ciprofloxacin. These studies suggest that this modified nanoprecipitation method is a rapid, facile, and reproducible technique for making nano-scale drug delivery carriers with high drug-loading abilities

Amphiphilic polyanhydride-based recombinant MUC4β-nanovaccine activates dendritic cells

Mucin 4 (MUC4) is a high molecular weight glycoprotein that is differentially overexpressed in pancreatic cancer (PC), functionally contributes to disease progression, and correlates with poor survival. Further, due to its aberrant glycosylation and extensive splicing, MUC4 is a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. Our previous studies have demonstrated the utility of amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticles as a useful platform for the development of protein-based prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. In the present study, we encapsulated purified recombinant human MUC4-beta (MUC4β) protein in polyanhydride (20:80 CPTEG:CPH) nanoparticles (MUC4β-nanovaccine) and evaluated its ability to activate dendritic cells and induce adaptive immunity. Immature dendritic cells when pulsed with MUC4β-nanovaccine exhibited significant increase in the surface expressions of MHC I and MHC II and costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), as well as, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-12) as compared to cells exposed to MUC4β alone or MUC4β mixed with blank nanoparticles (MUC4β+NP). Following immunization, as compared to the other formulations, MUC4β-nanovaccine elicited higher IgG2b to IgG1 ratio of anti-MUC4β-antibodies suggesting a predominantly Th1-like class switching. Thus, our findings demonstrate MUC4β-nanovaccine as a novel platform for PC immunotherapy.

Dispersible hydrolytically sensitive nanoparticles for nasal delivery of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

Nose-to-brain delivery of drugs is affected by nanoparticles (NPs) deposited on the olfactory surface and absorbed directly into the brain. Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), a water soluble drug used for treating suicidal patients, was incorporated into a fast degrading poly(sebacic anhydride) (PSA) NPs. NPs were prepared by a solvent-antisolvent process under strict anhydrous environment to obtain high TRH loading and to avoid premature PSA degradation and TRH release. PSA and TRH were dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane and ethanol and added dropwise to a dispersion of mannitol particles in heptane as an antisolvent. Mannitol powder was included in the antisolvent, so that formed NPs adhered to the mannitol microparticles for easy isolation and immediate dispersion in water prior to use. The size, surface charge, and morphology of the TRH-PSA NPs were determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta-potential, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. The NPs prepared were uniform and spherical of ~250 nm. Further, the in vitro release profile of TRH from NPs lasted for 12 h with most TRH released within the first hour in water. Concentration dependent cell toxicity studies revealed low toxicity level at low concentrations of the NPs. Surface adsorption of the NPs was also uniform on the cell surface as examined through the odyssey near infrared fluorescence (NIR) images using Indocyanine green (ICG). The NPs are designed to enable direct delivery to the olfactory epithelium using a refillable nasal atomizer that deposits mist onto the olfactory neuro-epithelium.

Recent insights in the use of nanocarriers for the oral delivery of bioactive proteins and peptides

Bioactive proteins and peptides have been used with either prophylactic or therapeutic purposes, presenting inherent advantages as high specificity and biocompatibility. Nanocarriers play an important role in the stabilization of proteins and peptides, offering enhanced buccal permeation and protection while crossing the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, preparation of nanoparticles as oral delivery systems for proteins/peptides may include tailored formulation along with functionalization aiming bioavailability enhancement of carried proteins or peptides. Oral delivery systems, namely buccal delivery systems, represent an interesting alternative route to parenteric delivery systems to carry proteins and peptides, resulting in higher comfort of administration and, therefore, compliance to treatment. This paper outlines an extensive overview of the existing publications on proteins/peptides oral nanocarriers delivery systems, with special focus on buccal route. Manufacturing aspects of most commonly used nanoparticles for oral delivery (e.g. polymeric nanoparticles using synthetic or natural polymers and lipid nanoparticles) advantages and limitations and potential applications of nanoparticles as proteins/peptides delivery systems will also be thoroughly addressed.

Breaking the Barrier - Potent Anti-Inflammatory Activity following Efficient Topical Delivery of Etanercept using Thermoresponsive Nanogels

Topical administration permits targeted, sustained delivery of therapeutics to human skin. Delivery to the skin, however, is typically limited to lipophilic molecules with molecular weight of < 500 Da, capable of crossing the stratum corneum. Nevertheless, there are indications protein delivery may be possible in barrier deficient skin, a condition found in several inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, using novel nanocarrier systems.

Methods: Water in water thermo-nanoprecipitation; dynamic light scattering; zeta potential measurement; nanoparticle tracking analysis; atomic force microscopy; cryogenic transmission electron microscopy; UV absorption; centrifugal separation membranes; bicinchoninic acid assay; circular dichroism; TNFα binding ELISA; inflammatory skin equivalent construction; human skin biopsies; immunohistochemistry; fluorescence microscopy; western blot; monocyte derived Langerhans cells; ELISA

Results: Here, we report the novel synthesis of thermoresponsive nanogels (tNG) and the stable encapsulation of the anti-TNFα fusion protein etanercept (ETR) (~150 kDa) without alteration to its structure, as well as temperature triggered release from the tNGs. Novel tNG synthesis without the use of organic solvents was conducted, permitting in situ encapsulation of protein during assembly, something that holds great promise for easy manufacture and storage. Topical application of ETR loaded tNGs to inflammatory skin equivalents or tape striped human skin resulted in efficient ETR delivery throughout the SC and into the viable epidermis that correlated with clear anti-inflammatory effects. Notably, effective ETR delivery depended on temperature triggered release following topical application.

Conclusion: Together these results indicate tNGs hold promise as a biocompatible and easy to manufacture vehicle for stable protein encapsulation and topical delivery into barrier-deficient skin.

Combination therapy for tuberculosis treatment: pulmonary administration of ethionamide and booster co-loaded nanoparticles

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious cause of death worldwide. The use of ethionamide (ETH), a main second line anti-TB drug, is hampered by its severe side effects. Recently discovered "booster" molecules strongly increase the ETH efficacy, opening new perspectives to improve the current clinical outcome of drug-resistant TB. To investigate the simultaneous delivery of ETH and its booster BDM41906 in the lungs, we co-encapsulated these compounds in biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), overcoming the bottlenecks inherent to the strong tendency of ETH to crystallize and the limited water solubility of this Booster. The efficacy of the designed formulations was evaluated in TB infected macrophages using an automated confocal high-content screening platform, showing that the drugs maintained their activity after incorporation in NPs. Among tested formulations, "green" β-cyclodextrin (pCD) based NPs displayed the best physico-chemical characteristics and were selected for in vivo studies. The NPs suspension, administered directly into mouse lungs using a Microsprayer®, was proved to be well-tolerated and led to a 3-log decrease of the pulmonary mycobacterial load after 6 administrations as compared to untreated mice. This study paves the way for a future use of pCD NPs for the pulmonary delivery of the [ETH:Booster] pair in TB chemotherapy.

Design of experiments for microencapsulation applications: A review

Microencapsulation techniques have been intensively explored by many research sectors such as pharmaceutical and food industries. Microencapsulation allows to protect the active ingredient from the external environment, mask undesired flavours, a possible controlled release of compounds among others. The purpose of this review is to provide a background of design of experiments in microencapsulation research context. Optimization processes are required for an accurate research in these fields and therefore, the right implementation of micro-sized techniques at industrial scale. This article critically reviews the use of the response surface methodologies in pharmaceutical and food microencapsulation research areas. A survey of optimization procedures in the literature, in the last few years is also presented.

Smart Release Nano-formulation of Cytochrome C and Hyaluronic Acid Induces Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

Herein we tested a nanosized cancer-cell targeted delivery system based on cytochrome c (Cyt c) and hyaluronic acid. Cyt c was chosen since it is a per se non-toxic protein but causes apoptosis when delivered to the cytoplasm of target cells. Hyaluronic acid was employed to create the nanosized delivery system with passive targeting capability in order to exploit the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect and active targeting capability of hyaluronic acid. In addition, our goal was to incorporate a smart release strategy to only promote protein release upon reaching its target.

Nanoparticles were formed by a simple yet precise nanoprecipitation process based on desolvation. They were physically characterized to select precipitation conditions leading to adequate size, shape, protein bioactivity, and protein loading to produce a feasible targeted cancer treatment. We synthesized nanoparticles of around 500 nm diameter with a 60% protein loading and more than 80% of protein bioactivity. In vitro, cumulative release of 92% of Cyt c was observed after 8 h under conditions mimicking the reductive intracellular environment, while under non-denaturing conditions only 20% was released. The nanoparticles displayed a selective cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. After 6 h of incubation with the nanoparticles, hyaluronic acid receptor over expressing A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells showed a viability of ca. 20% at 0.16 mg/ml of Cyt c concentration. Only a negligible effect was observed on viability of COS-7 African green monkey kidney fibroblast, a normal cell line notoverexpressing the hyaluronic acid receptor. Confocal microscopy confirmed that the drug delivery system indeed delivered Cyt c to the cytoplasm of the target cells. We conclude that we were able to create a smart stimuli-responsive targeted drug delivery system with significant potential in cancer therapy.

Development of a nanoprecipitation method for the entrapment of a very water soluble drug into Eudragit RL nanoparticles

Rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate (RHT), one of the potential cholinesterase inhibitors, has received great attention as a new drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, the bioavailability of RHT from the conventional pharmaceutical forms is low because of the presence of the blood brain barrier. The main aim of the present study was to prepare positively charged Eudragit RL 100 nanoparticles as a model scaffold for providing a sustained release profile for RHT. The formulations were evaluated in terms of particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro release properties of lyophilized nanoparticles were also examined. The resulting formulations were found to be in the size range of 118 nm to 154 nm and zeta potential was positive (+22.5 to 30 mV). Nanoparticles showed the entrapment efficiency from 38.40 ± 8.94 to 62.00 ± 2.78%. An increase in the mean particle size and the entrapment efficiency was observed with an increase in the amount of polymer. The FTIR, XRD, and DSC results ruled out any chemical interaction between the drug and Eudragit RL100 polymer. RHT nanoparticles containing low ratio of polymer to drug (4:1) presented a faster drug release and on the contrary, nanoparticles containing high ratio of polymer to drug (10:1) were able to give a more sustained release of the drug. The study revealed that RHT nanoparticles were capable of releasing the drug in a prolonged period of time and increasing the drug bioavailability.

Aqueous Two Phase System Assisted Self-Assembled PLGA Microparticles

Here, we produce poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) based microparticles with varying morphologies, and temperature responsive properties utilizing a Pluronic F127/dextran aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) assisted self-assembly. The PLGA polymer, when emulsified in Pluronic F127/dextran ATPS, forms unique microparticle structures due to ATPS guided-self assembly. Depending on the PLGA concentration, the particles either formed a core-shell or a composite microparticle structure. The microparticles facilitate the simultaneous incorporation of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules, due to their amphiphilic macromolecule composition. Further, due to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) properties of Pluronic F127, the particles exhibit temperature responsiveness. The ATPS based microparticle formation demonstrated in this study, serves as a novel platform for PLGA/polymer based tunable micro/nano particle and polymersome development. The unique properties may be useful in applications such as theranostics, synthesis of complex structure particles, bioreaction/mineralization at the two-phase interface, and bioseparations.

Can microfluidics address biomanufacturing challenges in drug/gene/cell therapies?

Translation of any inventions into products requires manufacturing. Development of drug/gene/cell delivery systems will eventually face manufacturing challenges, which require the establishment of standardized processes to produce biologically-relevant products of high quality without incurring prohibitive cost. Microfluidicu technologies present many advantages to improve the quality of drug/gene/cell delivery systems. They also offer the benefits of automation. What remains unclear is whether they can meet the scale-up requirement. In this perspective, we discuss the advantages of microfluidic-assisted synthesis of nanoscale drug/gene delivery systems, formation of microscale drug/cell-encapsulated particles, generation of genetically engineered cells and fabrication of macroscale drug/cell-loaded micro-/nano-fibers. We also highlight the scale-up challenges one would face in adopting microfluidic technologies for the manufacturing of these therapeutic delivery systems.

Solid lipid nanoparticles for encapsulation of hydrophilic drugs by an organic solvent free double emulsion technique

Encapsulation of hydrophilic compounds for drug delivery systems with high loading efficiency is not easily feasible and remains a challenge, mainly due to the leaking of the drug to the outer aqueous phase during nanoparticle production. Usually, encapsulation of hydrophilic drugs is achieved by using double emulsion or inverse miniemulsion systems that often require the use of organic solvents, which may generate toxicological issues arising from solvent residues. Herein, we present the preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with a hydrophilic compound by a novel organic solvent free double emulsion/melt dispersion technique. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of important process and formulation variables, such as lipid composition, surfactant type, sonication parameters and lipid solidification conditions over physicochemical characteristics of SLN dispersion. Particle size and dispersity, as well as dispersion stability were used as responses. SLN dispersions with average size ranging from 277 to 550 nm were obtained, showing stability for over 60 days at 4 °C depending on the chosen emulsifying system. Entrapment efficiency of fluorescent dyes used as model markers was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and UV-vis spectrophotometry and results suggest that the obtained lipid based nanoparticles could be potentially applied as a delivery system of water soluble drugs.